Process for securing heat energy from combustible substances.



' R. G. FINLAY. PROCESS FOR SECURING-HEAT ENERGY FROM CUMBU STIBLE SUBSTANCES. APPLICATION man was. 1913.

- 1,213,470 Patented Jan; 23,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I r a. a. FINLAY. PROGESSJOR SECURING HEATENERGY FROM COMBUSIIBLE SUBSTANCES.

APPLICATION FILED nus/5.1913.

1,21 3,470. Patented 111.23, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- awwwkw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT GILMOUR EINLAY, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

PROCESS FOR SECURING HEAT ENERGY FROM COMBUSTIBLE SUBSTANCES.

T 0 all whom 2'25 may concern;-

Be it known that I, RomanT Gimuona FIN- LAY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at No. 2330 Euclid avenue, in the city of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes for Securing Heat Energy from Combustible Substances,

of which the, following is a specification.

This invention relates to processes for securin and delivcrln heat ener v from D be combustible fluids and the transformation of such heat energy into chemical, physical, or mechanical products and has for its object the conversion of combustible substances into by-products in such a manner that larger yields of available heat are tained and secured or applied from given amounts ofcombustible substances than by processes and means employed hitherto and the conversion of such heat into products, and it comprises exposingcombustible fluids in acomnnnuted or finely divided state to the action of a combustion inducing.means,

such as heat or other means of ignition, either per se or augmented by contact-or catalvtic'agents and in the presence of a substance having an afiinity for hydrogen capable of retaining oanchoring it from and against circulating gases; but capable of delivering itto oxygen when present in sufficient proportion to combust the same and a heat absorblng and radiating sub" stance broadly and of a. heat non-conductive and heat difi'usive character specifically, and applying and delivering the heat so formed to a substance or through a medium when by the heat energy may be secured as power 'or'other product y1elded.'by the heat trans formation either chen'i-ically or physically.

The'invention 1s based on thc,-pr1nc1plo of concentrated combustion ofrestricted combustible substances associated with substances capable of securing and dcliverine the heat energy evolved during cmi'ibustion, which substances are preferably of solid nature. and includes the. application or utilization of the. condensing, contact. or attractive action of certain. materials for hydro gen gas whereby ordinarily fugitive hydrogen, which is evolved when hydrocarbon dissociated by heat or combusted with oxygen at a temperature selective to the combastion of the carbon content, viz., above 1000 degrees 1 whereby hydrogen is lib-- cratccl and escapes uncombusted is secured or if combusted it at points not available for securing the heat evolved, and particularly when oxygen in the combustion gases is deficient or so increasingly dilutedpwith inert gases, such as nitr gen as is the case when air is deoxygcnatcd during: lhe cornbustion process, as to be lam-available.

it is well known that certain substances, such as platinum. palladiun'i, clay, silica and other substances have such an attractive atfinity for hydrogen that they condense it upon their surfaces and occlluic it within their porous bodies in large volumes and quantities and to an increased gravity or density bytheir peculiar inherent physi -al propertie and hence in the present invention these substances are employed for the purpose of holding, retaining, or anchoring uncombustcd hydrogen liberated or otherwise associated with the combustion fluids during the process of combustion and preventing it from escaping uncombusted in and with the products of i-tm'ibi'istion and thereby separating it from inert ineombusti associated heat absorbing and radiating: ma-

terial. thus im-rcasing the initial heat enei. evolved and providing for its direct utili.. tion through other and more positive means than convection. dill'usion or circulation of heated gases or gaseous: products ot combus tion, the solid heat absorbers and radiators being ol superior hcat'storine and deliver-- inn -apacit and nature than the non-conductivc gaseous products of combustion of the prioljart.

As an example of the process and'manner and means by which it is pcrfm'm'ed the.

oxidativc c uulnistion ol' hvdriwarbon and conversion of the energy evolved into power througli the medium of water OYSUWHIl HHd means for supplying power will begiven, reference being.directed-to thc accompanying drawings which represent diagran'nnatially a means employed to accomplish the desired result in which 1 I*iguref1. is a apparatus adapted for heating fluid from the outside inward, in'accordance' with the broken sectional view of an.

present invention, and on the line- 1-'- 1 Fig. 2. F g. 2 1s a cross section of the same corresponding parts in the several news.

on the line 2-72 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a broken drocarbon at various. temperatures of pro-' gres'sive nature. with limited and regulated portions of oxygen at various points or in a plurality of combustion zones or planes, and

V Fig. '6 illustrates diagrammatically and by ns. 5. a d t e Ou er surfa f the'p e 7 ..-i hydr ogen condenser-3 as to form w nking and d1tfusin-g chamber 10. for the combuslegend the various steps involved in the oxygenated combustion of constituents of hydro carbon in composite character concentrating in a commondellvery of heat evolred at eachstageresulting in ultimate or complete combustion.

Sim lar numerals of reference designate Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 1 indicates a pipe or; conduit containing-fluid 2 to ,be heated. Surrounding the pipen" Conduitl is the porous tube or member 3 of refractory material having the property of condensing or occluding hydrogen and of sufficient internal diameter to provide an annular combustion chamber or space l between its inner surface and the exterior of This sectlon of the.

the pipe-0r conduit 1. apparatus iszhoused by the exterior shell or housing-5 closed at the ends by suitable blank flanges Genga'ging the flanges 7 of the housing 5 andsecured thereto in a. closingfashion by the bolts 8, the blank flange 6 being provided with a circular opening 25 adaptedto fit closely about the porous hydrogen condenser tube 3. Inside the housing 40 5 is situated a perforated or fora minous tube or n e nl er 9 nsuch a manner as to be-located between the inner surface of theh-oustible fluid ingredients and the preliminary or, primary combustion chamber 11, thet-wo i v being-closed at the endsby contact engagement of the perforated tube9 withlthe inner s'ideflof the flange closure '6 and is provided with the openings or perforations 12 through which. the. combustible gasesori' fluids are i fed tothe preliminary or primary combus- -.tion chamber 11. The housing 5 is provided- -with'the inlet 1 3.-for' the combustible fluids which] are .supplied .tothe mixing chamber lO'and from .thenceithe' combustible fluidsare uniformly supplied to the preliminary I or primary chamber llithrough the 'perforaa 5-0 tions or openings 12. In theoperationj of this form of heater the combustible.fluid,.

-such,"as a mixture-ofqmethane and air or oxygenor substance containing the same comprisuignatural gas and an. or oxygen erg..'dthe Jhyd e 'e lbqn i sup l ed t9 t e.

other device or receptacle containing the fluid or othersubstance to be heated 2.

As the combustion proceeds in chamber 11 theheat accumulates: thereinuntil a temperature of 1000 degrees F. is quickly reached at which oxygen has a superior affinity for carbon over hydrogen and, there fore, primarily combusts the same in pref erence to the hydrogen of hydrocarbon and liberates free hydrogen which passes with the products of combustion into and through the interstices of thetube into the secondary combustion 'chamber4 where the hydrogen which hasbeen left uncombusted in chamber 11 and is catalytically condensed in the pores of tube 3 is combusted by admission of fresh oxygen or air intochamber {L by means of'a suitable supply conduit 46 communicating therewith, the carbon having all been combusted at a selective temperature, i. e. above 1000 degrees F. in the primary combustion chamber 11.

The ultimate products of'combustionare discharged from the apparatus through an outlet means 47 communicating With the secondary combustion chamber 4:. l

During the progress of thecombustion the heat evolved in the primarycombustion chamber 11 elevates-the temperature to point "that selective to the oxygenated.

combustion of the, carbon 'of-:the'1hydroca'r- "bon oventhe hydrogen contents. andalso fa i3 ei'litates the dissociation, ofthe hydrocarbon into its" free elemen ts'- during the selective" sorbed by the porous member 3 expanding and enlarging 'thewpenings or interstices therein and througlnwhich pass the carbon oxid by-products of combustion and hydro-- :the heat carryingcombustionproducts, from which. solid the heat is supplied or'radiated for utilization'i'n the variousv operations and for the mucus purposes desired.

f burning of the-carbon-fwhile the heat'is: ab-

' The liberated and uncombined hydrogen passes out of" the preliminary or primary combustion chamber 11 into and through the pores or interstices of the heat absorbing and porous n'iember 3, by reason of pe culiar attractive allinity for hydrogen or contact action of the heat absorbing porous member which condenses the hydrogen therein and thereon to a degree that the hydrogen readily combines with such oxygen as remains in the depleted and stilling productso't' combustion and nitrogen content thereby securing the heat wuiivalent which would otherwise be lost provided no fur ther oxygen or air was supplied to the secondary combustion chamber -l. and this condensed hydrogen as it reaches the secondary combustion chamber 4 combusts with the fresh oxygen or oxygen of air supplied.

thereto or contained therein thereby liberating further heat all of. which heatis finally utilized 'by sup 'dying it to. and through the lluid containing pipe, conduit, or reservoir 1 thus heating the fluid therein.

The heat is absorbed and gradually radiated to the object or material to be heated,

by the solid heat retainer and adiator in contradi stiuction to and from the gaseous products of combustion of the prior art.

Referring to Figs. 3 and -l the. numeral 14 designates a shell-or wall of a fluid container, such as a boiler for generating steam,

which is closed by the removable top or i that the carbon is cover secured to.the reservoir by bolts QbPflSSlIlI throi'lgh and securing it to the. flange. 23.. 'lhroughthe reservoir passes the heater tube 16 which is provided. with the solid heat retainer and radiator 17 comprising porous material. such as clay and having the property oi condensing or occluding hyt rogen. 1 g

The combustible fluid is supplied to the heat generating device tlll'tmg'jll the inner perforated tube or conduit l9 from whence it passes throughthe perforations or open lugs 21 into the primary or initial combustion chamber 20 whereit is combusted at ahigh degree induced by the accumulatioii of heat byretlection back and forth from thesurilace ot' the porous member 17 and the outer surface of the',perforated supply tube lbimpinging upon 'each and passing through the, coinbust ng gases elevating their tem -1 eratur e;to that at whichoxygeu has a superior allin'ity for ca'rbon'over hydrogen, so

combusted first liberating hvdrogen. from a hydroca-rbonr which is seizedand condensed in and by the porous contact substance conmrising the tube 17 and-thus increased in gravity so t-hat itmore readily combines with any. oxygen unconsuincd by the carb n. regardless ottluiiconr bustion stilling condition I of ;the products of combustion associated-pith it. comprising as it does, nitrogen and carbon dionid.

substantially, with only-a small volume of oxygen and whereby more heat is secured and which heat is usually lost by the fugitive hydrogen passing up the llue and out of the chimney in ordinary cases ol combustion. Oxygen or air is also introduced into the chamber .19 throughinlet +8 to supply the fluid with oxygen for that which had previously been consumed in the initial combustion when desired. In all respects this adaptation of the iuvm tion corresponds'to that involved in the operation of the plan illustrated in Figs. ,1 and '3 except that in this former illustration the heat was generated and supplied to 'the lluid or other material or substauceto be heated from the outside in an inward direction while in the plan shown in Figs. 3 and l. the heat is delivcred from the inside in an outward direction through or in contact with the fluid or other substance to be heated. The former being especially adapted for heating fluid. such as water. while the latter is especially adapted for producing high ten'iperatures thereby 1'n'odncing steam which can be. utilized for power run-poses through suitable engines (not shown) or for other applications. v

vThe heatproduced within the heater is transmitted to the water or fluid 353 inthe boiler or reservoir, 14 through a solid heat conveying medium or vehicle comprising-the porous heat retainer and hydrogen condenser 17.

The revel-berating heat absorber or vehicle liservesto enhance the distribution of the heat asproduced and concentrates the heat through its hydrogen condensing, properties which induces combustion in gases containing oxygen in such limited propore tionsas to be non-available as a combustion factor ordinarily and therefore prevents; losses of combustible fluids. such as hydrogen. and increases the beating utility byb'r'ecovering the heat. of combustion which is. ordinarily lost. As beforestated it is ad: ,visable to platinize the porous clay member 17 to augmentits contact and condensing utility with reference to hydrogen. Then] timatecombustion chamber llljis provided with inletincans +8 for supplyingv oxygen oroxyge-n in avehicle. such as air. andalso with an outlet +9 for the. products of co nbustion.

Tn the apparatus for present process as illustrated diagrammatically in Figs. 1 and 3 it will be noted in re t'erring to Fig; 1 that-the combustible gas such as hydrocarbon or mixture thereof with limited quantities of air is introduced through the inlet 13 into the chamber 1!) airrying out the from whence it passes through the openings 12 in the wall .9 where it is partially ,combusted into the chamber 11 wheret'urther controlled by suitable valve, in which chamber 11 the temperature is suddenly elevated to above 1,000 degrees or the point at which carbon has a superior affinity, for oxygen over hydrogen thereby liberating hydrogen irom hydrocarbon by reason of deficiency of oxygento combust both the carbon and hydrocarbon present the hydrogenbe'ing rap- '-idly absorbed and conveyed through the porous catalytic or contact wall 3 passing therethrough where in its catalytically c'on densed state it is combusted by the oxygen or air introduced into chamber 1 through the inlet 10 controlled by suitable valve, the,

products of combustion passing out from chamber 4:" through the outlet 4:7 con- 'trollerheby suitable valve or chamber. In the initial combustion in chamber 11 prior to the elevation of the temperature to above 1,000 degrees it is advisable to allow the products of combustion in said chamber to escape through the outlet 38 controlled by suitable valve, and when the temperature has arisen to a point at or above 1,000 degrees where carbon has superior atfinity for oxygen over hydrogen the valve in the outlet 38 is closed allowing the prod* iicts of combustion to pass together with the hydrogen through the porous catalytic wall 3 and out through chamber .1 and outlet 4:7; this method. of procedure. is particularly adaptable for the heating of water from the exterior inward.

In cases where it is desired to heat water from the interior outward the means diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 3 is preterable in which case water may be introduced into or discharged from the appara tus through theducts controlled by suitable valve and the steam generated may beconveyed through, outlet 51 controlled by suitable valve 52 and .the' pressure controlled by relief valve 33 in the conduit 31. In the combustion as. brought about in this form of apparatus shown in Fig. 3 the combustible ingredients are introduced through the inlet 18 controlled by suitable valve passing throughgaglhe openings 21 into the chamber 20 which c bustion is primarily induced and the temperature allowed to rise. above 1,000 degrees orapoint at which carbon has a superior afiinity for oxygen over hydrogen of hydrocarbon up to which point products of combustion are allowed to escape through the outlet 36 controlled by suitable valve and after which the'outlet'36 is closed and the products of'comb'ustion together with the #hydrogen which is rapidly absorbed'and con- "densed'by the catalytic. wall 17 pass there-- through into '-the secondary combustion chamber-'10. During the combustion in chamber-20 oxygen or" air is introduced throi' gh the inlet 35 controlled by suitable v l 'i i'wliich chamber the carbon is pref-' Fe1,-ib1 consumed r O d e and h with the; hydrogen liberated passing into and through the Wall 17 into the chamber 19 where the hydrogen is combusted by oxygen or air entering into the inlet 48'controlled by suitable valve the final products of combustio-n passing out of the secondary combustion chamber 19 through the discharge duct 49 controlled by suitable valve communicating therewith.

It is obvious that many other applications of the present inveption than that for heating fluids interiorly or exteriorly as herein enumerated may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, such as stoves, heaters, broilers, and all other apparatus or devices employing heat and where a larger yield of heat may be secured and applied in more economical manner and with better and more positive results than by the combustion means employed hitherto resulting in a saving of labor, fuel, time, and cost with correspondingly larger yields ot'.product or, other final result.

In Figs. 5 and 6 are shown different designs or plans for the purpose of illustrating or presentinga diagrammatic analysis of the transient steps or reactions involved in the complete combustion of a hydrocarbon,

such a methane or substances containing the same like natural gas, in which the dlftering-afiinities of hydrogen and carbon for oxygen are distinguished by progressively changing reactions identified by steps or divided into stated lines of demarcation as the combustion proceeds,

Referring to Fig; 5 the various reactions I involved in the complete combustion of hydrogen and carbon of a hydrocarbon, such as methane, are defined by steps illustrated as taking place or being performed. in an apparatus provided with distinct and separate compartments or combustion chambers into which the methane is initially introduced into the lower combustion chamber 26 with just enough oxygen or vehicle containing' the same, such as air, to combust two of tliediydrogens from two volumes of methane or substantially comprising one voli ume of oxygen. The combustible fluid com-' position then passes into the porous outlet below 1000 degrees F. the hydrogen of the or burner 29 where it is ignited .and being methane has a superior aflinity for the oxygen and is, therefore, first consumed proportionately inpreference to the carbon con? tent, producing an equivalent of water and leaving the ,hydrogencarbon radicals ormethy1s. (CH,') having one free bondeach to condense on each other and produce the next higher "carbon -containing paraflin hydro-- carbon ethane (C 11,) and evolving the heat equiyalent of the hydrogen oxidized or com-- busted-which elevates the temperature of the associatedfluids in the combustion chamber point at which carbon hasa superior 27 where the condensed liydrocarlmn. ethane generated in the combustion chamber 26 by partial comlmstiou of the hydrogen of the methane prin'iarily, mixed with tour voltunes of oxygen or vehicle, such as air. containing the equivalent amount of oxygen necessary to combust the carbon in the ethane (C l-l the gases being at a temperature at which the carbon has the superior aliinity for free. oxygen. this accomplished it I'HOtll'llGS two volumes oi carbon dioxid and l aves as a combustible ingredi ent in. the by-product six volumes of uncon'ibusted hvdrogen.

The heated [)lfOtlliCtS of coml'iustion thus prodiuied containing six volumes of. uncombusted hydrogen pass through the porous septum or diaphragm 30 into the tertiEiry comljiustion chamber where three volumes of oxygen or vehicle. such as air, containing the equivah-mt amount otoxygen is introduced and the final combustion of the six volumes of hydrogen is performed producing four voliin'ies of water. and the ultimate products of (:(m'ilmstioin viv... carboi'i diax d and water pass out of the discharge opening 31 and through the conduit or flue 32, the heat produeei'l being cumulated in the al'iparatus and blended into a unitornr heat product This illustration presumes the progressive oxidation or oxidatlve combustion of hydrocarbon by supplying progressively equivalents or oxygen to perform the various transient reactions at varying priiigressive points during the ultimate combustion and is given only as an illustration of what takes place'during the progress of combustion to shown how the hydrogen is libe. 'ated, and. through its light gravity and fugitive and elusive nature usually lost as a heat producing factor for the reason that. it escapes with the products of combus tion up the flue and out of the chimney and only burns.. it at all. at the top ofthe chimney where it is not smothered by the excess of nitrogen. carbon dioxi d and water vapor which maybe represented in volume as ea 200 m c or out oi. reach of any point at which its heat equivalent can be sec ired and utilized, and tl'ieretore lts heat utility lSVlOSt.

In the progressive combustion of hydro gen and carbon when an equivalent of oxygen or vehicle containing the same, such as air. all initially ii'itroduce d into or as-,

sociated with the hydrocarbon and burned,

instead of at progressive points for sectional its corresponding heating equivalent for the reason as shown and illustrated in Fig. 6'.

Fig. (5 is a diagrammatic illustration of progressive reactions entering into the conicause of the combustion stilling comlitions ot' the associated products when the hydrogen gets a chance to unite with the oxygen which is left after the'carbon is all coir s nned. for instance, consideringthe combustion. occurring as represented in various steps by the circles shown in Fig. (i at the left. scrz'azim in an ascemling direction which are involved during the production of heat andits blending from the various reactions at the point represented by the single circle at the right. toward which all heat generated passes and at which all accumulates. Referring to this analytical diagram it will be noted that the combustion of the methane starts cold '1'. 0. below 1000 degrt' es 1 and at a temperature at which hydrogen has a superior aliinity over carbon for tree oxygen. Here is also illustrated the ultimate combustion of a mixture of i'netha'nc and oxygen in proportion of two volumes oi methane to eight vohnnes of oxygen. the oxygen being associated with thirtytwo. volumes of nitrogen or existing as ordinary air in proportim'i by volume of four of nitrogen to one of oxygen. as shown in the chemical formula at the right in Fig. 6, in which the nitrogen being inert is omitted.

The initial reaction consumes two volumes of hydrogen and produces an equivalent of water in elevating the temperature of the comlnlsting ingredients to a teml'ierature at which the oxygen has a superior allinity for carbon resulting in the production of an atmosphere comprising one volume of ethane associated with seven volumes of oxygen, thirty-two volun'ies of nitrogen and one volume of water.

In the next or second step in the combustion the temperature beii'ig selective to the combustion of carbon withfrce oxygen, the

- fugitive and elusive nature associated as it m with the. heavier p oducts of combustion bon with air in or by the ordinary methods ofcombustion or the corresponding recovcry of heat which should be produced in complete combustion at utilizable points or in a utilizable form. I c

The formula representing various combustion stages of the combustion transforming or convertingingredients, viz., carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, are illustrated in the legend of Figs. 5 and 6 per 86,- omitting the nitrogen which'is present in air and which is inert as to actual combustion and does not enter into the same, this is omitted to make the combustion illustration more clear and not complicated by foreign'confusing inert (liluents.

The '[n'esent invention overcomes the difli= cultie'smet with in the prior art by associating with the combusting ingredients a sub stance or material which has such an aflinity for hydrogen that it absorbs, abstracts'and retains it from the surrounding ingredients and condenses it until combustion is induced by the limited amount of oxygen left in the large volume of combusted andcnoncombustible substances of combustion stifling nature after the carbon having the superior atlinity for free oxygen induces the existing conditions of heat at the time at which the hydrogen gets a chance to combust.

As illustrative of the varying allinities of oxygen for hydrogen and carbon at. varying temperatures reference is directed to the fol lowing chemical formulae or,equations in i which (1) represents the reaction at alternperature at which hydrogen has the selectime or superior afiinity over carbon for free oxygen, 1'. below 1000 degrees F., while (2) represents the reaction which takes place at an elevated temperature or that at which carbon has the selective or superior afiinitv for oxygen over hydrogen viz. above lOOOdegrees F.:

1 20H, 40 20 m o combustion.

The above analytical reactions are given assuming that the temperature at (1) and (2) are so low and so high as to admit of the complete reaction at their selectivetem- 1 peratures, at points intermediate, however, where the affinitiesof hydrogen and carbon for oxygen strive for the mastery many intermediate products of partial combustion of complicated nature are produced in which oxygen becomes bonded to} the hydrogen and carbon formingcarbon', hydrogen, and oxy- I gen containing compounds, such as formic aldehyde (CH O), etc.,' which stage'it is unnecessary to discuss inasmuch as for the purpose of obtaining heat by combustion'the formation of these productsishould be prohibited by conditions inducing the complete combustion of all the hydrogen and carbon equivalent.

- The various steps involved in the combustion of hydrocarbon with" oxygen from the point at which hydrogen has the superior aflinityfor free oxygen to that at which carbon has the superior aflinity, and the final combustion of the residual free hydrogen with the remaining oxygen may be represented by the following chemical formalzc or equations enumerated under (1), (2) and (3), the heat evolved during the performance of the reaction (1) elevates the temperature of the ingredients to that at which carbon has the superior or selective aflinity for free oxygen and'therefore induces the reaction set forth in (2) X As showing the depletion of oxygen in air uring the process of combustlon as per formed at each stage enumerated and the v.Qdry YO-final products of oxidation, viz., carbon CllOXid' andnvata to obtain the full heat difficulty experienced in combustion at each stage due to the increasing presence of noncombustible and combustion stifling gases such as nitrogen, carbon dioxid and water and particularly with reference to the condition at a time at which thehydrogen free has a chance to combust, the following chemical formulae or equations are given:

Air comprises 4N O Necessary to combust 20H}: 3 2N 80.

Stage 1) 8 air I 32N 80 minusO'= 32N 70 E 0 Stage (2 32N 70 '40 32N-+ 30 E 0 200,. Stage (3) f 32N +30 30 32N. 41 1 0 200,.

Tlie condition of the atmosphere during the beginning of the combustion of each succeeding stage may be noted by referring to the underlined formulae at the right of e2fcf preceding equation Which constitutes thef residual fluid productand associated inert;

fluids of the proceeding stage or step in the 'con'ibustion 'prmaalure or process.

product unless passed through a heat absorber. scrubber or conducting gauze. By combu'ni'ig' contact action for attractmg. securing. and condensing hydrogen,

'during the processof combustion with osmosis or dialysis induced through porous materials. hydrogen may be ahst acted from carbon of hydrocarboi'i or from. other carlainaceous substal'ices and the separated ingredients combusted at selective places or points by reason of their.being dialytically segregated. The almorption. condensation. or occlusion of the hydrogen by the porous contact acting material presents to'combustion a hydrogen-eontaining or hydrogenated fuel of superior heating nature evolving large tplantities of heat llPUIl OXltltltlVG combustion with tree oxygen or oxygen of an oxygen delivering agent. The combination of osmosis, catalysis and dialysis in the 'process of combustion actuated by and through a heat absorbing. retaining and delivering substance of non-combustible nature provides a fuel of progressively regenerative nature and superior heat delivering character. In this manner combustion may be carried on conlinuol'lsly and progressively and the various ingredients may be combusted sil'miltaneous-ly by providing yarious selective tcn'rperaturcs particularly adaptable to each and especially facilitated by dialysis of a porous non-comluctor of heat. Some of the catalytic on contact substances adaptable to augment the action catalytically of the porous dializer and heat absorber and radiator are such substances as the oxid of iron, vanadium. chromium. manganese. etc, which may be associated with the dialytic heat abstracting and ('lclivering combustion mem' her. The contact action of some substances for hydrogen is sogreat that it has been calculated that the hydrogen gas must be actually'soliditicd thereby and therein because of the percentage content present in the space occupied. This contact atlinity or catalytic action also applies to oxygen as well as hydrogen whereby the combustion is fm-ther enhanced or facilitated.

By providing a plurality of combustion points,'zones. or plal'ies'selecthc to the combustion of the various ingredientsof the combustible fluid. the heat evolved and internall liberated throughout the hndv nF lluid is so justified as to promote c mplete combustion and yield-a unlformlty of heat thereby providing a temperature control of the products of combustion and providing I l i a means for checking andregulat ng the same so that losses through superheated ga s k or discharge of products of combus lon is prevented. the. separate or siimiltant-ous'.

combustions of ingredients being- (wipers attire and co-active wlnlcthe heat evolved is blended and umhed.

provides an uncircuhitive and quiescent heat 4 The concentrated; combustion induced by the contact material yielding medium actuated in such a mannor that the heat evolved may be readily secured without loss and a. uniformity of heat in the gases induced by impinging the combusting gases on the heat radiator in the combustionchamber. Insomecascs it is advisable to heat the ombusting ingredients or fluids prior to combustion and especially in such cases where'primary dissociation of ingredients such as hall-coarbon into free hydrogen and carboi sired and this is also augn'ientcd by the progressively elevated temperature induced by the plurality of inch-pendent comhu sting n'iatcrials. The contact or catalyticbilaterial ein oyed may be of solid clia yacter and to red so as to render itapplicable for ma: specific purposes such as shmiin at 3 Figs. 1 and i2 and 17 Figs. 3 and 4 or it may comprise broken or segregated parts or pieces of the material instead of.in a body or mass provided in any event the material is suitably situated or located. and the material may comprise a contact or catalytic inert substances to increase the surface presented or otherwise augment the contact or 'atalytic action. "It will be not-ed in the device illustrated for the purpose of setting forth the invention that the iron tube containing the fluid to be heated'asshown at 1, in Figs. 1 and 2 is always in a reducing or non-oxidizim atmosphere which prevents the burning or destruction of the same as occurs in ordinary bare flame combustionoperations or devices such as boilers or water heaters.

The term thermode employed herein is intended to imply a means -as applied to htat generation and delivery corresponding to the term electrode employed in electricity, including a heat'lcceiving and delivering character and device for augmenting the heat generation by contact action broadly and comprises specifically a sub stance having contact or catalytic action of such character as to seize. hold and condense hydrogen and oxygen and other combustible substances upon or within it and separate it or them from associated inert re deform a condensed combustion of the seized or separated combustible ingredients, simultaneously abstracting the heat evolved and delivering it to and at such points as de sired for utilization. This thermode may also be of porous, dialytic, and catalytic 4 nature, the osmotic properties of which may render it utilizable for separating the dense from" the less dense associated fluids, such as hydrogen from hydrocarbon whereby each may be simultaneouslyand separately" combusted at varying points and at selective temperatures to their individual combustion and the heat collected, blended and delivered by the thermode without interference, such as combusting hydrocarbon on one side of a porous dial-ytic diaphragm and hydrogen at the other side the same being passed through pores of the dialytic thermode from the combusting carbon side to the hydrogen coinbusting side during the process of combustion while the dialytic diaphragm acts in common as a thermode for collecting the heat liberated or evolved from each-opposite reaction and delivering it from a common point in blended and unified form and in a simultaneousand progressive manner. In the operation of this arrangement the heat of one reaction may be employed to elevate the tempera ture to a selective point to actuate the combustion of the other. The porous tube or member shown at 3 Figs. 1 and 2 and 17 Figs. 3,and 4 constitutes at once a diarlytic diaphragm of porous osmotic nature and contact or catalytic nature, in accordance with this specifically described procedure.

The term combustion relates to the com bustion of elements of combustible substances whereby heat is evolved in contradistinction to and fro'mv endothermic or heat absorbing reactions of steam with oil whereby carbon is oxidized and hydrogen yielded in the production of oil-gas and the term catalysis relates to? contact action of finely divided or porous substances of condensing or catalytic nature.

' stance, such as hydrogen, condensed by the,

The term or expression catalytically condensed as employed herein is intended to imply and does implya combustible subabsorption or attractive action of a catalytic or contact substance in such a manner that when the combustible is combusted the united energy of the condensed combustible substance such as hydrogen, is evolved directly as if solid hydrogen were being combusted, and the supplyof hydrogen'or other combustible to thelzone or sphere of combustion is supplied bysubstanti'ally suction means induced by catalytic absorption or attraction of the contact substance from one direction while the 'catalytically con-.

densed hydrogen or other combustible is be 'ing combusted at another point. It willbe noted therefore that the supply of coinbustible through. the medium of catalytic attraction or absorption is drawn to the combustion zone thereby in contradistinction'to and fromprocesses in'the prior art which depend upon a draft or compression for supplying combustible ingredients to the sphere of combustion, and it will also be noted that in all cases of the prior art that the combustible ingredient is supplied to the zone of combustion associated with sufficient or excess of oxygen or oxygen delivering substance, such as air, to wholly combust the combustible ingredients so that there existsno combustible to be condensed as revealed in the present inventioneven if the combustion ingredients are associated with substances having catalytic nature, -VVlien combustion "ingredients or eombustibles associated with oxygen suflicient'or in excess of that necessary to combine with the whole of the combustible are brought in contact with catalytic' agents, sufficient heat is immediatelyproduced to cause the ignition of the combustion mixture andthereafter the catalytic or contact substance acts only as an ign'itel and performs no other catalytic or contact action. v

As a further illustration of a catalytic means of supplying a combustible in accordance with the present invention it will be noted that if the contact or catalytic substance employed comprises palladium which has the property of condensing or absorbing 600 times its volume-of hydrogen, and hydrogen is the combustible substance remployed, this hydrogen will be drawn from a reservoir. by the catalytically condensing action of the paralladium, and if the condensed hydrogen is combusted ata point on the porous palladium containing substance opposite or away from the point of hydrogen supply, that the hydrogen combusts depleting-the porous palladium of its hydrogen increasing the attractive afiinity of the palladium for hydrogen at the point of supply and hence the combustion proceeds and the hydrogen supply is maintained catalytically as the products of combustion are discharged. y

v Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid which comprises exposing a combustible fluid to ignition, progressively combusting the elemental constituents at selective temperatures and at rent isolatedpoints, securing and blend in the heat evolved anddischarging the products of combustion- 2. The process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid "which comprises exposing a; combustible fluid containing hydrogen to ignition, pnogressively j combusting the elemental constituents, at' selective temperatures and at different isolated points, securing and blending the h eat-evolved and discharging the products of combustion.

3. The process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid which comprises exposing a combustible fluid containing hydrogen and carbon to ignition, progressively combusting the elemental constituents at selective temperatures and at difierentisolate d points, securing and blending the heat evolved and discharging the products of combustion.

4. The. process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid which comprises exposing a combustible fluid containing a hydrocarbon to ignition, progressively combusting the elemental constituents at selective temperatures and at diflerent isolated points, securing and blending the heat evolved and discharging the products of combustion.

'5. The process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid 'Iwhich comprisesexposing a combustible fluid containing hydrogen and carbon to the action got heat capable of liberating hydrogen, 'progres sively combusting the carbon and the hydrogen at selective temperatures and at different isolated points, securing and blending the heat evolved and discharging the productsof combustion; a 6. The process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid which comprises exposing a combustible fluid containing hydrocarbon to the action of heat capable of liberating hydrogen, progressively combusting the carbon and-the, hydrogen at selec tive temperatures at different isolated points, securing and blending the heat evolved and discharging the-products of combustion. a 7. The process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid Which comprises exposing a combustible fluid tothe action of heat capable of dissociating ail-ingredient I therein,progressively combusting the resultant products at different isolated points, se-

' curing and blending theheat evolved and discharging the products, of combustion.

8. The process of securing heat' energy from combustible fluid whichcompnses exposing a combustible fluid to the action of heat capable of dissociating an ingredient therein, combusting one of the "resultant. products, retainingv another against normal gravity and combusting the same, securing 'the heat evolved and discharging the'prodnets of combustion. I j a 9. The process of securing heat energy from combustiblefluid which. comprises ex posing'a combustible fluid containing hydrogen and carbon to the action-of heat capable of liberating hydrogen, reta nmgthe I drogen yieldin hydrogen against normal gravity, combusting the carbon and combusting the hydrogen. at different points, securing the heat evolved and discharging the products of combustion.

10.,The process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid which comprises exposing a combustiblefluid containing hydro- 11'. The process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid which com rises ex posing a combustible fluid containlng a by compound to the" actionof heat capable o liberating hydrogen, retaining the-hydrogen against normal gravity and finally combusting the same, securing the heat evolved'and discharging the products of combustion. I

1-2. The process "of securing heat energy, 3

from combustible fluidwhich comprises condensing hydrogen by contact attracting and absorbing-action and exposing it to. the a0- tion'of an oxygen delivering agent, securing I genated product. 13. The ,process of the oxygenatedproducts. V '14:. The process 'ofsecu'ring 'heat energy progressively oxidizing carbon of hydrocars the heat; evolved and discharging the'oxiysecuring heat energy I bon, condensing the hydrogen evolved, oxig; dizing said hydrogen. securing the heat evolved from both oxidations and discharging thecombustion products. v II 15. The process of; securing heat energy from' combustible fluidwhich comprises progressively oxidizi drogen, securing the heat, evolved from both oxidations and products", I .I

16. The process of securing heat energy carbonof hydrocar b011, condensing "the ydrogen evolved by contact action", oxidizing said condensed hyf discharging the combustion 1-13 from combustible fiuid which comprises comi busting hydrocarbon While maintainedsat a t'emperatureat which oxygen hasa superior aflinity" for carbon While in the presence of a hvdrogericondensingagent aridjfiri'allyproduced.

10c rll'om combustible fluid which comprises- I combusting the condensed*hydrogen i'thusi";

gravity by contact action and combusting the same, securing the heat evolved and discharging the products of combustion.-

l8. The process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid which comprises exposing a combustible fluid containing hydrogen and carbon to the action of heat ca- "same, securing the heat evolved and disgocharging the products of combustlonfi from combustible fluid which comprises con-. densing "a combustible fluid in a thermode, combustmg the same, securlng the heat pable of liberating hydrogen, retaining the hydrogen against normal gravityby contact action, combusting the carbon, coinbusting the hydrogen, securing the heat evolved and discharging the products of combustion.

19. The process of securing heat energy from combustiblefiuidwhich comprises exposing a combustible fluid containing hydrocarbon to the action of heat capable of lib:

crating hydrogen, retaining the hydrogen heat capable of liberating hydrogen, retaining the hydrogen against normal gravity by contact action,v and finallyicombu'sting the 21-. The process of securing heat energy evolved, discharging the products or combus; tion, and supplying combustible to the conibustion 'zone' or sphere by suction induced by "catalytic condensation or absorption.

22 The process of securingheat energy from combustible fluid which @0111 rises catalyticallycharging a thermode wit1 hydrogen bycatalytic condensation or absorption,}then combustingthe same; securing the fh'e'at'evolved, discharging the products of combust on, and supplying combustible to'th e combustion zone or sphere by suction induced 1 by fcata'lyt'ic condensation or absorption. v

' dischargingthe products of combustion, and supplying combustible to the combustion zone or s 'here bysuction induced -by' cata;

' progressively The process of securingheat energy I from combustible fluid .whichcomprises combusting hydrogen of'a catalytically hydrogenated tl ermode, securing the heat evolved,

lytic con ensation or absorption. r r

24.' The proce's's of securing i heat. energy from combustible fluid, which comprises condensing ing -the same, securing the heat energy evolved,discharging the products of combastion, and Supplying combustible to the. combustion .zo'ne, orfsph'ere, by suction'insecuring the a I combustible fluid in a thermode or thermode's, combust{ d by catalytic condensation or absorply-tle condensation or absorption;

25. The process of securing heat energy ,from combustible fluid, which comprises progressively condensing hydrogen. in a thermode or thermodes, combusting the by 'dro'gen' retained, securing the heat evolved,

discharging the products of combustion, and

supplying more hydrogen to, the combustion zone or sphere by suction induced by catalytic condensation or absorption.

26. The process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid, which comprises thermode or thermodes,rom a hydrogenyielding substance, combiisting the hydrogenretained, securing the heat evolved, discharg- .ing the products of combustion,.and supplying more hydrogen-yielding substance to the progressively condensing hydrogen in acombustion zone'or sphere by suction mduced by-catalytic condensation or absorpr- 27. The process of securing heat energy;

tion.

from combustible: fluid which comprises progressively cataly-tically charging a thermode or thermodes with hydrogen from a hydrogen-carbon. containing compound by 1 catalytic attraction or absorption, cointion.-

28. The process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid which comprises bustible to the combustion zone or sphere by catalytic condensation or suction induced by absorption. I

29. The process of securing heat energy from combustible 'fluid, which comprises busting the hydrogen retained, securing the fheat evolved,.discharging the products of i combustion, and supplying combustible to the com'bustion z'one or sphere by suction induced by catalytic condensation or absorpprogressively condensing a combustibl'e'fluid in a thermode or thermodes by catalytic attraction or absorption during the processof combustion, combusting the same, "securing the heat evolved, discharging a the. products of combustion, and supplying combustible to the combustion Zone or sphere by suction induced by catalytic condensation or absor'pltion; r r v 30. The process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid which comprises mode for thermodes with hydrogen during progressively catalytically charginga therc the process of combustion by catalytic at traction or absorption, combusting the hydrogen retained, l securing the-heat evolved discharging the productsof combustion, and I supplying combustible .to the 'C0mbl1 St10Il 1 zone' or sphere by suction inducedbycata- 31. The process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid, which comprises progressively, condensing hydrogen from a hydrogen-yielding substance during the process of combustion, combusting the hydrogenretained, securing the heat evolved,

discharging the products of combustion, and

supplying more hydrogen from the hydrogen-yielding substance to the combustion zone or sphere by suction induced by catalytic condensation or absorption.

' 32. The process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid which comprises progressively catalytically charging a thermode or thermodes with hydrogen from a hydrogen-carbon containing compound during the process of combustion by 'catalytic' attraction or absorption, combusting the hydrogen retained, securing the heat evolved, dischaizging the products of combustion, and

supplying combustible to the combustion zone or sphere by suction induced by catalytic condensation or absorption.

The process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid which comprises progressively catalytically charging a thermode ,or thermodes with hydrogen from, a hydrocarbon during the process of combustionby catalytic attraction or absorption, combusting the hydrogen retained, securing the heatevolved, discharging the products'of-com:

r bustion, andsupplying. combustible to the combustion zone or sphere by suction induced by catalytic condensation or absorption.

34. ,The prooess of securing heat energy from combustible. fluid which comprises subjecting a combustible fluid to dialytic dissociation, then combusting the dialized prod nets of differing density and the undialized residuum, securing the heat evolved, discharging the products of combustion, and supplying combustible to the combustion zone or sphere by suction induced by catalytic condensation or absorption.

35. The process of securing hea't energy from combustible fluid which comprises subj ecting a combustible fluid to dialyt-i'c dissociation' during the process of combustion,

then combusting the dial'ized products and the undialized'residu'um, securing the heat evolved, discharging the products of com bustion, and supplying combustible 'to the combustion zone or sphere by suction induced by}. catalytic condensation or absorp;

tion. 36. The= process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid which comprises sub-- jecting an uncompressed combustible fluid to the dissociating action of a dialytic thermode, then "combusting the products; and educts thereof, securing the heat evolved, discharging nthe products of combustion, and supply ing combustible tothe combustionzone or sphere by suction induced by catalytic con- I 5 densat-ion 'or absorption.

37. The process of securing heat ener from combustible fluid which comprises su jecting an uncompressed combustible fluid to the dissociating action of a dialytic catalytic thermode, then combusting the prodnets and eductsthereof, securingthe heat evolved, discharging the products of combustion, and supplying combustible to the subjecting an uncompressed combustible" fluid. to the dissociating action of a'dialytic catalytic thermode during the process of combustion, then combusting the 'products and educts thereof, securing the heat evolved,

discharging the products of combustion, and

supplying combustible to the combustion zone or sphere by suction induced by vcatalytic condensation or absorption.

4:0. The process of securing heat ener from combustible fluid which comprises 511 jecting -a heated combustible fluid to osmosis and catalysis, combustingthe products and educts'thereof at different isolated points,

the products of combustion.

41. The process of securingfheat energy from. combustible fluid which comprises sub- ,securing the heat evolved and discharging" .jecting a combustible fluid to osmosis, combusting the products and educt'sthereof at different isolated points, securing the heat evolved and discharging the. products of combustion. V 42. The process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid which comprises subjecting an uncompressed combustible fluid to dissociating osmosis and catalysis during the process of'combustion, then combusting the products andeducts thereof, securing the heat evolved, discharging the products of combustion.

43. The process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid which-comprises subjecting an uncompressed. combustible fluid to. dissociating osmosis during the process of combustion, then combusting the products,

and'educts thereof, securing the heat evolved, discharging the products of combustion.

44, The'process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid which comprises exposing a combustible fluid to ignition, progressively combusting the elemental constit-- v uents at selective temperatures and at different isolated points, securing and-blending the heat evolved through the medium of a solid heat conveyor associated with the combusting ingredients and discharging the products of combustion. a

45. The process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid which comprises eX posing a combustible fluid to ignition, pro gressively combusting the elemental constituents at selective temperatures and at different isolated points, securing and blending the heat'evol'ved by the action of a porous solid'heat conveyor associated with the combusting ingredients and discharging the products of combustion.

4:6. The process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid which comprises conibusting a combustible flu d containing carbon and a less dense ingredient while maintaining a temperature at which oxygen has a superior affinity for carbon,retain1ng the less dense ingredient against normal gravity, securing the heat evolved and discharging the products of combustion.

Hi-The process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid which comprises combusting a combustible fluid containing carbon and a less dense ingredient while main taining a temperature at which oxygen has a "superioraffinity for carbon,-retaining the,

less dense ingredient against normal gravity by contact action, securing the heat evolved and discharging the products of combustion.

48. The process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid which comprises combusting a combustible fluid containing carbon and hydrogen While maintaining a temperature'at which'oxygen has a superior affinity for carbon, retaining the hydrogen against normal gravity-securing the wheat evolved and discharging the products of combustion.

.49. The'process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid which comprises combusting a combustible fluid containing carbon and hydrogen while maintaining a temperature'at whichv oxygen has a superior afiinity for carbon, retainingfthe hydrogen against normal gravity by contact action, securing the heat evolved and discharging the products of combustion.

50. The process of securing heat energy fromcombustiblefluid which comprises combustin a combustible fluid containing, hy-

drocar on while maintaining a temperature at which oxygen has a superior afiinity'for carbon, retaining the hydrogen against. normal gravity, securing the heat evolved and discharging the products of combustion.

heat evolved and discharging the 51. The process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid which comprises combusting a combustible fluid containing hydrocarbon while maintaining a temperature at which oxygen has a superior aflinity for carbon, retaining the hydrogen against nor- 7 mal gravity by contact action, securing the of combustion.

52. The process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid which comprises progressively catalytically condensing-a fluid and combusting the samein such condensed state, and supplying combustible thereto by suction induced by catalyticcondensation or absorption,-

products 53. The process of securing heat energy from combustible fluid which comprises progressively catalytically condensing a fluid, combusting the same in such condensed state, and supplying combustible fluid to the catalytically condensing zone or sphere, and supplying coinbustible thereto by suction induced by catalytic condensation vor absorption. i

54. The process of securing heat energy from hydrogen which comprises progressively 'catalytically condensing hydrogen and combusting the same in such condensed state, and supplyinghydrogen thereto by suction induced by catalytic condensation or absorption. a i

55. The process of securlng heat energy from hydrogen which coinprlses progressively catalytically condensing; hydrogen,

combusting the same in such condensed state, and supplying hydrogen to the catalytically condensing zone or sphere, and supplying hydrogen thereto. by suction induced bycatalytic condensation or absorption, v

56. In the processof securing heat energy r m combust l nia h step per ma' separated combustion, of constituents diflering in gravity and catalytic afiinity,

which/comprises subjecting the fluid to the combined and cooperating action of .a cata lytic substance associated with a substance comprising osmodic dialyzi'ng-properties se- -lective to the passage through the same of the catalyzed and catal tically condensed constituent'to the retar mg of the other, combusting each at-points' separated thereby and progressively supplying the fluid coma bustible to be separated and combusted.

In testimony whereof iX my signature in presence: of t'wowitnesses} I p RoBEaTeIL oUn-fiINL Y.

Witnesses:;

Hmuirzn'r R. Bastion, THEODORE M. BRANCH. 

